Pakistan Coach Bradburn Sees India’s Heavy Defeat as a Valuable Wake-Up Call

In a surprising twist following Pakistan’s significant defeat against India in the Asia Cup Super 4 match, Pakistan’s head coach, Grant Bradburn, expressed gratitude for what he described as a “gift” from India. The Babar Azam-led side suffered a crushing 228-run loss, one of their heaviest defeats in terms of runs in ODIs, against arch-rivals India.

Bradburn’s Unconventional Response

Unlike the expected harsh criticism and stern scrutiny after such a defeat, Grant Bradburn took an unconventional approach. He thanked India for their treatment in the match and considered the heavy loss as a “wake-up call” for his team as they prepare for the World Cup. Bradburn’s perspective was far from critical, focusing instead on the learning opportunity presented by playing against some of the world’s best players

“My gut feeling is that we are grateful for the gift that has been this last two days,” Bradburn told reporters after the drubbing.

“We don’t get to play some of the best players in the world very often,” he added. 

“We haven’t lost a game of cricket for the last three months, so it’s a timely reminder that we need to turn up every day, put in our best on the park, and it’s actually a gift in the last two days we haven’t done that.”

Bradburn’s reasoning is grounded in the recent success of the Pakistani team, which had been on an impressive winning streak in ODIs before this defeat. Pakistan even claimed the No.1 ranking in ODIs just before the Asia Cup. Despite a strong start in the tournament, including a convincing win over Nepal, Pakistan faced a reality check against India.

A Dominating Display by India

In the Super 4 match, India showcased a clinical performance, amassing a joint-highest total of 356 and then bowling out Pakistan for a mere 128. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill‘s formidable opening partnership set the tone, and Virat Kohli and KL Rahul‘s centuries further extended India’s dominance. Bradburn acknowledged that Pakistan was outplayed in all facets of the game, offering no excuses for the performance. 

While Pakistan’s batting unit struggled in the past month, Bradburn expressed confidence in their capabilities and emphasized the team’s consistency in selection. He believes that the batting unit will find its rhythm again, considering it a positive sign for the team.

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